Purpose: This bill would preserve the Arctic coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, as wilderness in recognition of its extraordinary natural ecosystems and for the good of present and future generations of Americans.
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Status: Referred to the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans, and Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Action: SUPPORT. Please contact your Representative and urge him/her to support H.R. 567. Tell your Representative that oil companies are attempting to open the pristine Arctic Refuge to oil drilling. However, oil from the Arctic Refuge would do nothing to alleviate the oil shortage nor will it solve our long-term energy needs. In fact, experts estimate that there is only a 6-month supply of recoverable oil in the Arctic Refuge, which does not even amount to 2% of U.S. demand at any one time. It would be a tragedy to destroy this extraordinary natural ecosystem for such short-term and limited gains.
Talking Points for your letter:
- H.R. 567 will protect the Arctic coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an extraordinary natural ecosystem, for the good of present and future generations of Americans.
- Oil companies are attempting to open the pristine Arctic Refuge to oil drilling due to high oil prices. However, oil from the Arctic Refuge would do nothing to alleviate the oil shortage we are facing in the U.S. nor will it solve our long-term energy needs. In fact, experts estimate that there is only a 6-month supply of recoverable oil in the Arctic Refuge, which does not even amount to 2% of U.S. demand at any one time. In addition, there is nothing prohibiting the oil companies from sending the extracted oil overseas.
- Drilling for oil would cause hundreds of miles of roads and pipelines to be built, streambeds mined for gravel, and constant traffic from heavy equipment, all of which will destroy the pristine beauty of this place. The Arctic Refuge is home to polar bears, caribou, and millions of birds that migrate from across the U.S. and beyond. The Arctic Refuge is also the sacred homeland to Native American Gwich’in people, who depend on the land for their survival.